Grateful to Bob Burg and John David Mann

Recently I finished reading "The Go-Giver", by Bob Burg and John David Mann, after finally getting to it in my pile of books I intend to read. Rather than go on to the next book waiting for me I immediately ordered their newest book, "Go-Givers Sell More" and began reading it the day it arrived by mail. I have read a lot of wonderful books and do not normally comment on or review them. I haven't finished the second book, yet I want to share some thoughts as these books immediately came to mind when I sat down to write today.

Like most people I have been in sales all my life, whether I knew it or not. It wasn't until I was in my early 30's, which was quite some time ago, that I got into selling as a profession. That was when I started selling real estate, which I did happily and successfully for many years. In all that time I always wanted the best for my customers, clients and business partners. I learned early on that by focusing on the other person and their needs I was actually taking pressure off myself and I would be a lot less nervous on presentations and in negotiations.

After reading "The Go-Giver" I was thrilled to see The Five Laws Of Stratospheric Success so beautifully told through a wonderful story that is easy to read. The lessons of each law are experienced through Joe, who starts out as a go-getter and becomes a Go-Giver by the end of this wonderful little story.

As I am in the early years of a new selling profession, in network marketing, it is with great pleasure that I read these two little books. I am reminded of the purity of selling which I have always thought of as helping people get enough information in order to make a good buying decision. I am learning there are so many more ways I can help people get what they want and that I can do even better than I have in the past. By giving to others, in ways I had not actually thought of, I can help even more people in many more ways. I am inspired by the following quote from "Go-Givers Sell More": "Selling is giving: giving time, attention, counsel, education, emapthy, and value. In fact, the word sell comes from the Old English word sellan, which means - you guessed it - "to give."

Helping others has always given me a joyful high. Helping them get what they want even from a competitor, will now also be a joyful experience. Just this week I was talking to a friend about a product I sell. She said it sounded great but she hadn't shopped it yet for pricing. To make it easier for her I narrowed down the field, and her potential effort, by giving her the name of the only other company I could think of that could possibly give her the same quality. I had never done that before. It felt great!

Thank you Bob Burg and John David Mann. I am grateful to be able to read your two Go-Giver books and add value to others as a result. Thank you for the wonderful work that you two are doing together to make the world a better place to be. You make a difference!

With gratitude and admiration,
Dyann

I am grateful to be loving Tacoma!

I am grateful for Bougainvillea and so happy to have a photo album filled with pictures of them to remind me of the one place I have loved the most in the world, since my first visit there in 1967, Maui, Hawaii.

In January 2009 my husband, Wild, and I moved from Maui back to my hometown, Tacoma, Washington. After finally living in the land of my dreams, and even having a Hawaiian drivers license to prove it, I found myself back in Tacoma. Like a boomer-rang, only this time it is different. I am here by choice after carefully and consciously choosing Tacoma!

I love Tacoma! I really do! It delights me to be able to say I love Tacoma, and mean it! I love the beauty of the Olympic Mountains to the West, Mt. Rainier to the East, the waters of Puget Sound, Commencement Bay, Pt. Defiance Park and Zoo, The Glass Museum, the evergreen trees that are everywhere, the deer on our front lawn in the morning as we gaze out over the Narrows towards Gig Harbor and the Olympics. It is absolutely beautiful here! There is a unique quality to the Northwest that I never fully appreciated before. I think that the vast amount of travel I have done in the past six to seven years has given me a new perspective of the beauty of the Northwest. We are blessed with mild tempertures in the Winter and it rarely gets too hot in the Summer. It is beautiful here in the Fall, as the air begins to cool to that fresh crispness I love, and the deciduous trees turn to yellow, orange and red against the always present evergreens. Spring is exquisite, my favorite season, as every week it seems there are different plants, schrubs and trees that begin to blossom in the gloriously soft and gentle hues that feel like the promise of new love! Ahhh...

I am so grateful to be in love with Tacoma! This is the first time in my life I can say this with such honesty, clarity and joy! I have always wanted to be somewhere else. Anywhere else. As my life unfolded, no matter where I went, I always found myself back here. Resigned to being here. Not wanting to admit to living in Tacoma. There was a time when people didn't even know where Tacoma was. I always explained it was 32 miles South of Seattle. When I was elsewhere I learned to say I was from Seattle. People knew Seattle and it was seemingly cool to be from there, where it often felt not so cool to be from Tacoma. I have seen a lot of changes in Tacoma. I have come to realize that it is not the changes that have taken place in Tacoma that make me love Tacoma. It is the changes that have taken place in me.

I have spent the past eight years in a constant state of self improvement, travel, self development, travel, education, travel and transformational courses. All the time telling others that I was re-designing my life. Recently I had a profound realization. It occured to me the day after I completed the Curriculum for Living with Landmark Education, that I was no longer re-designing my life. I was now living my life with conscious choice and intention.

I finally realized, and came to know, that from the moment Lee died, on December 18, 2001 at 6:15 am, while we were on Maui, (I wrote about my late husband, Lee Oberbeck, dieing in my 3-25-2009 entry) until November 22, 2009 at 10:00 pm when I completed the Curriculum in Seattle, I had been in a long process of transformation. I know the exact moment it started and the exact moment it ended. I am so grateful to have the awareness of it all. And I am profoundly grateful to now be right in the middle of my life, consciously living it full out!

My life is filled with love, gratitude and possibility. The reason that I have come to love Tacoma is because I have come to love me. I am overflowing with love and gratitude. As I write this I am reminded of something my Dad said to me when I was in my teens. He said in the form of a question, "If you don't love yourself how is anyone else ever going to love you?" Good question, Dad. Now I know the answer.

Happy New Year! May it be a year filled with wonderful possibilities realized!

With love and gratitude,
Dyann

I am grateful for my healthy heart!

Today I walked with hundreds of others in support of the American Heart Association in the annual Heart Walk. What an honor that was to walk on behalf of my late husband, Lee Oberbeck, who died of a heart attack back in 2001.

My heart, and the gratitude I feel for my healthy heart, is becoming a new focus lately. This past Summer I was approached by Connie Hara, from the American Heart Association (AHA), to help with a luncheon this coming year. She was referred to me by a mutual friend who thought I would have an interest. When we met I was too busy to commit but I knew I wanted to work with Connie at some point.

Weeks later I was conceiving of an idea for a project I wanted to create as a result of a Landmark Education course I am taking called the Self Expression and Leadership Program. My idea was to educate people, particularly REALTORS since I used to be one, of the warning signs of heart disease and stroke. My Mother had died of the result of a dibilitating stroke and as I mentioned I lost my husband to a heart attack. I thought of Connie, called her and we discussed my idea. She said my idea sounds like it would work beautifully with the AMA Go Red for Women Ambassador's program She said all that was needed was a leader and a structure.

WOW! I found my project and a way to work with Connie Hara all in one neat package!

More to come as I share the Go Red for Women Ambassador's Program, and what they are up to, in my next update.

Be kind to yourself and your heart!

With love and gratitude,

Dyann

Grateful for Landmark Education

After many years of being a student of personal growth I finally went to a Landmark Forum introduction in March of 2009 with some dear friends who are Landmark graduates. Little did I know that my life was about to change in many unexpected and wonderful ways!

In the Landmark Forum, which is a three and 1/2 day stand alone course, I saw people transform in ways that can take a lifetime. The most surprising part for me was my own transformation. Nothing as huge as I saw in others but none-the-less miraculous!

I had already taken eleven (yes 11!) Peak Potentials courses with T. Harv Eker and several other courses including a weekend wth Chris Howard. Somewhere in one of Harv's courses I had made the decision that "I would rather be happy than right" and I took that stand from that moment on. I thought I was finally out from under the grips of the need and compulsion to be right, which had not served me well in my life.

By the end of the first night of the Landmark Forum I came to the realization that I was still 'being' right and I hadn't even known it! I was stunned to find the hidden secrets I was keeping from myself. Without even being conscious of it I was being judgmental and rightous, which allowed me to be right while making others wrong. The amazing part is that I was not even aware of it, as it was hidden from my view. Can you imagine my surprise after several years of saying to others, "I would rather be happy than right"? I had actually believed my own words! I am guessing that others could see the truth, even if I couldn't.

What I had lost, by my unconscious need to be right, was close, authentic, loving relationships with all the people in my life! That was the stark reality of my being human and unaware of that which was hidden from my view. I don't want to settle for that.

In the next 2 and 1/2 days of the Landmark Forum I uncovered other parts of my past that were keeping me from full self expression, confidence and clarity, which unknowingly was affecting my life. By the end of the Forum my past was no longer affecting my present or my future. The past was complete and it was in my past...right where it belonged!

I have continued on with the Forum in Action seminar series, the Advanced course and the Self Expression and Leadership Program (SELP), which I am currently doing.

Thank you Landmark, and all the amazing people who volunteer their precious time at Landmark, for helping me and others find the secrets to living life powerfully and living a life you love!

With love and gratitude,

Dyann

So Much Gratitude and So Little Time!

I am grateful for so many people, places and things in my life and so embarrassed to have not been here to show my gratitude since Mother's Day.

Every day I wake up and go to bed with gratitude in my heart and on my lips. This is really a beautifully busy time for me and I have been wanting to get back here to acknowledge my gratitude for all the many blessings that occur daily in my life.

I am so incredibly grateful for finding my vision, focus and passion after so many years of searching. I am filled with gratitude for all the amazing mentors I have had these past seven years as I have redesigned my life after the sudden death of my husband, Lee Oberbeck, and the end of a very long career in real estate.

A few of the many, many people, places and things that have contributed to my life in countless ways are; Victor and Elise Lyon, Wild Bill Jones, Dr. Myron Wentz, T. Harv Eker, Simon U. Ford, Dr. Denis Waitley, Dr. Ray Strand, Tim Sales, Bob Burg, Eckhart Tolle, John C. Maxwell, Dr. Wayne Dyer, Napoleon Hill, Esther and Jerry Hicks, Cheryl Sheehan, Rosie Banks, Barb Schwarz, Landmark Education, traveling and so many more!

My life is gratitude and love in action and I am so grateful to be able to write these words, breathe and contribute. Wishing you love, passion and clarity in your life!

With love and gratitude,

Dyann

Grateful to be a Mother!

Happy Mother's Day to me!

Since Wild Bill and I were married in 2003 whenever asked about kids I always reply that "We have eight grown children between us as well as eight grandchildren". Prior to August 1997 when anyone asked me if I had children I would always reply, "No".

The thing that happened in August of 1997 was the most unexpected thing I could ever possibly have imagined. It reversed a deep pain of loss that I had been carrying with me for over 32 years, the pain of giving up my beautiful daughter for adoption after seeing her for only a few moments after her birth.

It's a long story, too long for a blog, and it includes my handsome son who was also given up for adoption at birth. These two precious babies were given to families that would love and raise them at a time when I was still a kid myself. Yet in the summer of 1997 my grown daughter and my adult son, raised by two different families on opposite sides of the country and unknown to each other, both tried to track me down. What are the odds of that? My daughter was successful in finding me. My son, who got as far as standing in front of a judge in the state he as born in, was not able to locate me. After my daughter and I met, through a search consultant that she hired, I found my son with the same help. They both said the exact same thing to me within minutes of our very first conversation by phone. It went something like this: "Thank you so much for giving me to such a great family". I cried when my daughter told me that and I may have when I spoke to my son, I don't recall.

It is now almost 12 years since I met my two beautiful grown children who now have four children of their own between them. I consider their parents, who did such a great job of raising them, dear friends and I will be forever grateful to them for being the families that chose my children to love and cherish as their own.

I have heard stories of birth parents and adopted children and their parents not getting along. We are all so fortunate, and I am extremely grateful, that we have had many opportunities to meet, eat and spend time together. My children's parents are all amazing and wonderful people! If I had hand picked parents for my two children I could not have chosen any better parents for them!

As I mentioned I have six other great kids. Each one is a treasure and a joy. I love all eight kids, their spouses and heir wonderful children as thought they were mine all along! Prior to 1997 I never expected to have any children, let alone grandchildren, in my life! I am truly Blessed!

With love and gratitude,

Dyann

I am Grateful for Simon U Ford and Social Traffic

The Silversword plant is only found on Haleakala on the beautiful island of Maui, Hawaii, which makes it very rare.

I am feeling deep gratitude for my friend Simon U Ford and Social Traffic a very rare find too!

I call Simon a friend because I know that I can count on him. I can count on him being honest and transparent. I can count on him to honor his word, even if there is an unfortunate glitch in the system he will make sure that you get what you bargained for! I can count on his integrity, he has proved that he will do what he says he will do. I can count on his honesty, he says it like it is and makes no apologies for being honest. You always know where he stands, what he wants and what he expects. There is no guessing with Simon. That is why Simon has a powerful network of committed and passionate followers. Because people will gladly follow a Leader that they can count on and trust that has a vision worth following!

For the past three months I have taken an online social networking course through Simon's Social Traffic Inc. I was in, what will always be known as, Wave #1...the very first class and the guinea pigs for the course. Wave #2 and Wave #3 soon joined in as the weeks went on. I was keenly aware that we were breaking new ground, with Simon as the leader, and I happily followed whenever he gave us an assignment. As time went on the group got smaller, more efficient and much more committed.

In addition to many other accomplishments, we managed to beat Google at their own game on Youtube! As we each did our part in helping Simon's "Google Friend Connect" video rise to Number One replacing Google's very own videos on the subject, we all cheered and continued to do whatever Simon asked of us. It was an exciting time as we, all former strangers from all across the globe, came together as a single minded force to follow where ever Simon led us. I trusted him by instinct. Most of us found him and became interested after following him for many months prior to the start of the course on his Blog, http://www.socialtraffic.biz/ where we got to read how this man thinks and what he values. As time has gone on the Blog has grown and yet the story of Simon U Ford and Social Traffic is all in there for the interested to peruse.

My course is now completed and I am ready to move on. (Except for two sessions that Simon is still creating. He will let me know about them when they are ready. That is the type of person he is...a man of honesty and integrity.) I learned so much from Simon and all of the many friends I have made that became a part of Social Traffic...not just about the Internet and social marketing but also about our Mother Earth and the importance of Earth Day...Everyday! I do not want to lose these wonderful heartfelt connections. So Simon, count me in for Earth Day 2010 and I will be bringing along my ten friends who will agree to find ten friends who will also agree to find ten friends...

Who would like to step up and be named as one of my ten friends that I can count on for next year's 40th Earth Day Celebration? You can then start looking for your ten also and we will be ready to rock and roll next year!

With gratitude, respect and admiration,
Dyann